The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) has received a US$145,000 grant award from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to develop Zika!, an online, inquiry-based science education (IBSE) curriculum module for K-8 teachers and students to address the challenges and mitigation of mosquito-borne diseases, with a particular and timely focus on the dengue and Zika viruses. Supported by the scientific expertise of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama, as well as the scientific and international expertise of the IAP Science Education Programme (SEP) Global Council, this curriculum module will be developed through a series of IBSE lessons adaptable for grades K-8 and will draw on the scientific and pedagogical expertise of the Smithsonian’s SSEC and STRI research and education facilities.

Curriculum development and testing will take place during 2017 and into early 2018, and wil linclude a Spanish version. It will be disseminated by the SSEC, STRI, the USDA's Invasive Mosquite project (IMP), and IAP websites as a free online resource.